Myers Park High School
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| Myers Park High School | |
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A World of Difference
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| Location | |
|---|---|
| Charlotte, North Carolina, United States of America | |
| Information | |
| School district | Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools |
| Principal | Mr. Thomas L. Spivey |
| Enrollment |
2900 |
| Faculty | 172 |
| Type | Public |
| Mascot | Mustang |
| Color(s) | Kelly Green and White |
| Established | 1951 |
| Information | (980) 343-5800 |
| Homepage | http://www.mphs-ptsa.org |
Myers Park High School is a public secondary school and one of 17 high schools in the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools system. With a 62 acre campus and 13 individual buildings, students are able to learn in an environment similar to a small college. Myers Park High School hosts a diverse body of students (66% White, 23% Black, 7% Asian, 8% Latino) and students from 37 countries.
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[edit] The Campus
Myers Park High School is located at 2400 Colony Road in the Myers Park neighborhood. Two entrances are on Colony Road; a third is on Runnymede Avenue. The front circle of the school contains a garden housing a brick wall in the shape of a pentagon. In the middle of the front circle stand two marble statues as a monument to the World Trade Center Towers, dedicated in 2002 by Senator Elizabeth Dole. The garden was designed and built by teacher Mr. Randall and his Horticulture III class of 2002 in memory of the victims of the September 11, 2001 attacks. The area attracts a unique combination of students in the mornings as they exit their buses.
The campus is centered around a quadrangle, commonly known as the "quad". The Student Center (SC), Math Building, Social Studies Building, Auditorium, and Language Arts Building (LA) all open onto this large grassy area where many students eat lunch. Behind LA are buildings that house science, vocational, and mobile classrooms. The campus was built in the collegiate mold, with the entire campus revolving around an open quad area. The campus is about 62 acres.
[edit] Students
The class of 2004 received over $4.2 million in scholarships and the class of 2005 received over $4.9 million. In 2005, 90% of graduating seniors pursued further education after high school. 93% went to a four-year college and 7% went to a community or technical college.[citation needed]
[edit] Faculty
The faculty consists of 172 teachers, the principal, assistant principals, counselors, and specialists.
[edit] Extracurricular Activities
The school mascot is a green mustang. The school's official colors are kelly green and white.
Myers Park has 29 junior varsity and varsity sports for males and females. 33 special interest clubs are available. There is also a marching band program directed by Mr. C. Whit Blount. The marching band supports the varsity football team at all their games by playing fight songs, cadences, and a halftime show at the games. The Marching Mustangs won Grand Champion at a competition at Fred T. Foard High School in October 2006.
In addition, the Myers Park Speech and Debate team is recognized nationally. The team, the largest in North Carolina, has many nationally ranked debate and speech students. The team has won the State Championship seven out of the last ten years, most recently in 2008. The team also succeeds in its NFL district, having won the district championship every year for the past eight years. This accomplishment comes with qualifying at least ten students to the NFL national tournament annually, with the exception of qualifying only 5 competitors during the 2006-2007 season.
The Myers Park Speech & Debate Team hosts the annual Laird Lewis Invitational every year. The team is coached by Andrew West, one of the nation's most respected debate coaches, Jason Kline, a member of the national Public Forum committee, Karen Justice, Katie Parry, and Angelica Acosta. In 2006, they have taken first place at three tournaments, and have taken home trophies in the top five at all tournaments that give such trophies except for one. One such achievement is a third place overall trophy from the University of Florida Blue Key debate tournament. The team also placed third in Student Congress at Harvard University in 2006-2007.
The Myers Park Hoofprint is also a nationally acclaimed student newspaper under the current direction of Mr. James Scott.
Also, Myers Park High School has a top (Army) JROTC program. For every year it has been eligible, the "Mustang Battalion" has won the Honor Unit with Distinction award. It is run by First Sergeant George Powell and Major Doug Willie. The battalion has both a drill team and a rifle team.
[edit] Notable Alumni
Philadelphia Eagles linebacker was a three sport star at Myers Park. Gaither represented the Mustangs on the football, track, and basketball teams before earning a scholarship to play football for the University of Tennessee.
Former Indiana Pacers guard Haywood Workman was a football and basketball start at Myers Park. He went on to star in basketball at Oral Roberts University before entering the NBA as a second round draft pick.
Former Buffalo Bills (1969-70) and New Orleans Saints (1970-71) Offensive Tackle Mike Richey. A two sport star in both football and track-and-field, Richey held a state record in shot put, and still holds the school record. He earned a football scholarship to play at UNC-Chapel Hill, and was invited to 2 College All Star games. He was drafted in 1969 by the Buffalo Bills, the fourth pick behind O.J. Simpson.
Actor Ben Browder, of the television series, Farscape and Stargate SG-1, was a football player at Myers Park.
Steven Staples, a car thief in the greater Charlotte area was a graduate of the class of 2007. http://www.wcnc.com/video/news-index.html?nvid=234339
[edit] Curriculum
The curriculum provides for different levels of instruction: Advanced Placement (AP), International Baccalaureate (IB), and honors courses. General courses and remedial courses are also available.
[edit] Allegations of coerced dropouts
During March 2007, allegations were made that Myers Park was coercing low-performing students to drop out in an effort to boost test scores. A Time Magazine article cited claims of students who stated that they were told that they would not be allowed to return to Myers Park.[1]
A subsequent Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools investigation found no evidence that the Myers Park administration attempted to coerce students to drop out, or to falsify data to reduce dropout statistics. A small number of students with large numbers of absences were dropped from enrollment on the basis of attendance, which is incorrect procedure. [2]
The official Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools investigation report can be found at https://extranet.cms.k12.nc.us/news/stories/internetNews/pdf/5A11A200730653PM.pdf
[edit] References
[edit] External links
- Myers Park Parent Teacher Student Association Homepage
- Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools Myers Park High School Page
- Myers Park IB Homepage: Tolerance Matters
- Myers Park Speech & Debate Team
- Myers Park Bands Website
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| High schools | … full list Ardrey Kell | Berry Academy | Butler | East Meck | Garinger | Harding | Hopewell | Independence | Mallard Creek | Myers Park | North Meck | Northwest | Olympic | Providence | South Meck | Vance | Waddell | West Charlotte | West Meck |
| Middle schools | … full list Alexander Graham | Cochrane | Piedmont | Quail Hollow |
| Elementary schools | … full list Albemarle Road | Shamrock Gardens |
| Alternative and Exceptional schools | … full list Metro School | Morgan | Derita | Hawthorne | Midwood | Morningside at Graham |
